Installing Windows 7 on HP TouchSmart IQ506

Posted on January 9th, 2009 by admin

These are the steps I took to get everything to work. I’m installing Windows 7 on an HP TouchSmart IQ506 PC – which you can get at HP store (HP TouchSmart IQ506 22 inch screen multi-touch PC).  

  1. Found Kurt Brockett’s Windows 7 + TouchSmart setup Guide.  Read it. He does it for the IQ804.
  2. Downloaded the essential 4 drivers that Kurt talks about i.e. LAN, Wireless, Nvidia, and TV Tuner. Also, just in case downloaded all drivers for the IQ506. For the 4 drivers Kurt has said are necessary, I extracted those using WinRAR, each into their own folder.
  3. I also downloaded Windows 7 multi-touch drivers from www.nextwindow.com/windriver and went to www.identitymine.com/airhockey to download IdentityMine’s Air Hockey app – which I think will be a cool game to play with friends.
  4. Went into my HP Vista 64 bit, and partitioned a new drive – I did this in case the Windows 7 install didn’t work, and also because I did want to have partitioned drives anyways. It’s rather simple – Read this great shrink + partition guide from LyteByte.
  5. After this, I waited while the hard drive partition was being formatted – which did take quite a while since it was 160 GB. And began to write this.  
  6. I used MagicIso’s VirtualDrivesoftwareto actually run the Windows 7 ISO without actually burning a CD. Instead of doing the upgrade, I chose the custom option to install Windows 7 on my new S: drive. S: for se7en.
  7. Setup is checking video performance. I get to choose country + region. It shows a windows 7 ultimate screen. I choose user name, and set a password. It then asks for a product key which I don’t have. however it lets me proceed. 
  8. Screen to review time and date settings. Then, select computer’s location, and then tries to create to network + it seemed to work. It asks whether to create a home group and when i say yes, it gives password. It then shows another windows 7 ultimate screen and finalizes everything. It says – for testing purposes only + build 7000.
  9. Another restart – i do like the bootup screen. Again it says – setup is preparing your computer for first use. Welcome + preparing your desktop. The internet worked for me straight off the bar. It downloaded and installed an update automatically - a definition update for windows defender. The touch screen is working.
  10. There was an action prompt that asked me to install an anti virus + i choose kaspersky lab’s technical preview – transfer rate was really slow – probably due to the kaspersky servers being hit by windows 7 people.
  11. while the antivirus is installing I explore a bit – the libraries feature is really cool – i could go in and add my windows vista user’s pictures folder. Meanwhile it needs a restart after installing Kaspersky.
  12. Get the dual boot, which was the aim. BTW, I really like how i can adjust the tilt on the TouchSmart.

Since I did dual boot I get an option at start-up to choose between Windows 7 and Microsoft Windows Vista. I do want this to be able to use HP TouchSmart’s multi-touch applications. Also, in case something goes wrong with Windows 7.

Getting Multi-Touch Working on Windows 7. 

Here are the steps I went through to get multi-touch working -

  1. This time i had to login after restart.
  2. According to the great instructions on this site - Kurt Brockett’s Windows 7 + TouchSmart setup Guide, I need 4 sets of drivers - Summer RealTek LAN drivers, Summer RealTek Wireless drivers, Summer TV Tuner drivers, Nvidia 9300 drivers.  I didn’t need the LAN drivers since Windows 7 worked correctly with the LAN.
  3. The graphics don’t look too good right now. Installing the driver + i also see three unidentified devices. The nvidia driver didn’t install and ran into a timeout. This might be because the kaspersky protection would keep asking me to allow processes and forth. Trying to install it again. this time straight from the executable. It worked.
  4. Network device/adapter driver installed correctly and got me the wireless lan installed.
  5. Then the TV tuner via MultiMedia controller failed + trying the executable install. That method failed too. So I currently don’t have that working.
  6. After the drivers, I’m going to install the nextwin multi-touch driver. i already have the air hockey app installed. And it sort of works.
  7. I installed the NextWin Drivers – some scary prompts to be navigated. The download package has instructions – do read them.
  8. And then turned back user access control and restarted.
  9. Which should give me a working multi-touch windows 7 – fingers crossed.

As of right now I have a working multi-touch version of Windows 7 - I need something more than the air hockey to test multi touch though. Will let you guys know as things progress. Leave a comment if you have questions.

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16 Responses to “Installing Windows 7 on HP TouchSmart IQ506”

  1. HP TouchSmart + Windows 7 | Download Windows 7, Upgrade to Windows 7 - Software, Reviews & Updates, on January 9th, 2009 at 7:53 pm Said:

    [...] 9th Update: Here are instructions on installing Windows 7 on a TouchSmart. Should work for all 4 models of the 2nd generation TouchSmart [...]

  2. Emmanuel Huna, on January 10th, 2009 at 1:39 am Said:

    I have a blog post you may be interested in – it has instructions on how to install the HP Touchsmart on Windows 7:

    http://blog.ehuna.org/2009/01/how_to_reinstall_the_hp_touchs.html

    Quick warning: the photo/video/music tiles don’t always work in Windows 7 – I’m still trying to understand why.

  3. Josh B, on January 10th, 2009 at 2:56 pm Said:

    Thanks for this. I’ve successfully installed the Windows 7 beta and even got the video drivers to work. However, I can’t for the life of me, figure out how to extract the wireless or NIC drivers so that the TOuchsmart will run them (when I extract these files there are no .msi files and the .exe files give me an error message that I need to be an administrator, even though I am one).

    How did you extract these files (using what program) and what was the file you used to then run on the Touchsmart?

    I’m having the same trouble with the Touchsmart software so basically I end up with Windows 7 running but with no Internet connection or any Touchsmart capabilities.

    Any thoughts?

    -Josh

  4. admin, on January 10th, 2009 at 3:04 pm Said:

    Josh, what you’ll have to do is -

    1) use winrar or 7zip to extract the files out of the driver zipped executables. Now – don’t try to run these yourself.
    2) go to your Windows 7 device manager. You can do this by right clicking on computer and pressing Manage (you need admin privileges).
    3) On the left, there is Device Manager – select that. Now in the main panel where the list of devices is listed, right click on wireless and click on ‘Update Driver Software’.
    4) Then pick ‘Browse my Computer’ and navigate to the folder where you have extracted the driver files.

    After that let Windows 7 install the drivers. It worked for me, and should for you.

    Also, for the touchsmart software – follow the link above from Emmanuel. I’m going to try that – I have multi touch working because of the next window drivers. Instructions to install those are in the post.

  5. Josh B, on January 11th, 2009 at 8:39 am Said:

    Thanks, got the first set of drivers to work. Now moving on to TS software.

    Were you able to follow Emmanuel’s instructions? I looked them over but I didn’t have the exact file structure he had and I was most confused by the first step of copying files from H: to C: when the files don’t exist in H: yet. It would seem it’s the other way from C: to H: (there is in fact a HP directory in the C: but not in the H:). I’m emailing him for more clarification.

    -Josh

  6. mike, on January 15th, 2009 at 8:18 pm Said:

    will this work with 32 bit win 7

  7. admin, on January 15th, 2009 at 9:02 pm Said:

    i couldn’t get the touchsmart stuff to work on windows 7 – however, i’ve been thinking about the cost of having those 5-6 touchsmart processes always running and think it’s ok not having it.

  8. admin, on January 15th, 2009 at 9:06 pm Said:

    mike, i haven’t tried it with 32 bit.
    i do know that you’d have to use the 32 bit drivers from the hp website.
    in theory it should work.

  9. Installing Windows 7 Release Candidate - Step by Step Guide | Windows 7 Software, Windows 7 Reviews, on May 4th, 2009 at 11:44 pm Said:

    [...] you have a touchsmart you might look at my Windows 7 + Touchsmart post. Although its for the Beta and not the RC it might help you find drivers [...]

  10. Larry, on June 1st, 2009 at 6:27 am Said:

    Thanks for the good instructions. I was able to install Windows 7 RC on my IQ506 but have the following issues:

    1) Touchsmart program does not occupy the full screen. Specifically, it does not occupy 3 or so inches along the bottom and right sides of the screen.

    2) Built-in microphone not working.

    3) Side volume buttons not working.

    Any help would be appreciated!

    Larry

  11. Larry, on June 1st, 2009 at 4:54 pm Said:

    Thanks for the good instructions. I was able to install Windows 7 RC on my Touchsmart IQ506 but I’m having trouble with the following:

    a) Built-in microphone not working;
    b) Side volume buttons not working; and
    c) Touchsmart program does not occupy the whole screen. There is about a 3 inch “border” on the right and bottom sides where you see through to the desktop.

    Any help you could provide would be appreciated.

    Thanks!
    Larry

  12. Larry, on June 1st, 2009 at 6:23 pm Said:

    Update:

    Was able to get the microphone working. There is a soundmax setup file … I will post the folder info later. Once you set up soundmax it works.

    Larry

  13. admin, on June 1st, 2009 at 9:37 pm Said:

    thats good. I couldn’t get the side volume buttons to work at all.
    the microphone worked after messing around with sound settings for a bit.

    Not sure what to do for the ‘border’ on the HP touchsmart.
    Have you tried updating NVidia drivers from the HP site?

  14. Larry, on June 2nd, 2009 at 8:55 am Said:

    I didn’t do the NVIDIA driver b/c Kurt had crossed it out from the instructions on his post, but I will give it a try (probably tonight) and report back. Thanks for the suggestion.

  15. Larry, on June 6th, 2009 at 5:22 am Said:

    Turns out it wasn’t the NVIDIA drivers.

    I’ve figured out answers to (a) and (c) above, even if the answer to (c) isn’t totally satisfying.

    a) Built-in microphone problem was solved by installing SoundMax drivers. I found it on the Factory_at D:\hp\drv\APP12293\offline_driver\SM_Panel\x86\SoundMax.exe. I imagine you could also get the drivers from HP or SoundMax websites, and I think Windows has just come out with an update for SoundMax, so there should be several options. Probably best just to search for “SoundMax” in the Factory_Image (D:) drive.

    b) Still have not figured out how to get the side volume buttons working. Based on my investigation, others seem to be having the same problem.

    c) The problem of Touchsmart not occupying the whole screen is actually a problem that is not new to Windows 7. It just surfaced when I installed Windows 7 because the installation process changed my character size setting from the standard TouchSmart 96 DPI to 150 DPI. Apparently, TouchSmart users have long been suffering from eye strain on the TouchSmart with an inability to do anything about it. The standard 96 DPI setting with TouchSmart gives tiny fonts. If you change to 150 DPI, the font size is much better but it causes the problem I mentioned above with the TouchSmart application not occupying the full screen.

  16. Larry, on June 6th, 2009 at 5:25 am Said:

    By the way, you can get to the DPI settings as follows:

    Control Panel\Appearance and Personalization\Display
    On the left, click on “Set custom text size (DPI)”.

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